Morsi 'dislikes' using emergency powers

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi says he does not like using emergency powers, speaks of his controversial exit from prison during 18-day uprising

Ahram Online, Thursday 31 Jan 2013

President of Egypt Mohammed Morsi, addresses the media during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, unseen, after a meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013 (Photo: AP)

President Mohamed Morsi has said he "disliked" imposing a state of emergency on three Suez Canal cities, but he had to protect citizens against escalating violence.

He made the comments during a meeting with members of the Egyptian community in Berlin.

Thugs shot at a military helicopter from the roof of Port Said prison, Morsi said, citing it as a reason for the emergency measures.

There have been numerous attempts to smuggle large numbers of heavy weapons and missiles into the country, he added.

On Sunday, Morsi announced a month-long state of emergency in Ismailia, Suez and Port Said, after days of deadly unrest. Protesters have defied the curfew with marches and rallies.

Commenting on his detention during Egypt's revolution, Morsi said relatives of prisoners opened Wadi Al-Natroun prison (north of Cairo) where he was being held, not members of Hamas, as some have claimed.

Prisoners risked death from the amount of tear gas used during the prison break, he added.

Morsi was arrested several times during the Mubarak era.

He spent seven months in jail for protesting against the repressive measures and oppressive practices of the old regime.

During the revolution, Morsi and other Brotherhood leaders were arrested. When the prison was opened, Morsi refused to leave. Instead, he contacted satellite TV channels and news agencies to demand the authorities visit the prison and consider the legal position of the jailed Muslim Brotherhood members.

President Morsi visited the German capital on Wednesday in a shortened visit to seek support for Egypt's crumbling economy.

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Freedom Fighter, Aladdin

01-02-2013 01:35pm

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Sad and Shameful

I grew up in Port Said and can NOT understand their revolt against authorities for inditing killing of 77 incent people for no reason at all.I commend the police for enforcing las-and-order. As child I remember the people fight in Manakh, Manzalah,... against the invaders in 1956 war.

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medo

31-01-2013 05:26pm

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LOL!

This is nothing but political spin..... Just another "it wasn't us, it was them" everything is being blamed on someone else. Has one person who is not a civilian been arrested for the deaths of the 50 people who have been killed in the last week? I understand the authorities have a job to do... but it is all about how they do that job. No civilized country in the world would have the Police throwing stones and bricks at people. What do we think when people all over the world see these images? What rule of piece of law says that the police can act in this way? There would not be escalating violence if it was dealt with in a correct way from the start. Good bye tourism... was nice knowing you!

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mohammed moiduddin

31-01-2013 04:24pm

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Thank you al ahram

Finally some objective journalism and a little bit more about Morsi's hardship. Always need to give two points of view not just of the 3 stooges.